Liquid filling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A liquid filling apparatus having an annular passage for supplying liquid and a cylindrical center tube for discharging the excess liquid.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Alby H. Wolf Minneapolis; Darreld L. Schreader, Inver Grove Heights; Edward G. Schaumburg, Oakdale Village, Minn.

[21] Appl. No. 774,914

[22] Filed Nov. 12, 1968 [45] Patented Jan. 19, 1971 [73] Assignee Gould-National Batteries, Inc. St. Paul, Minn.

a corporation of Delaware [54} LIQUID FILLING APPARATUS 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 141/285, 14l/285,l4l/290 [51] Int.Cl B651) 3/04 [50] Field ofSearch 141/285, 290, 115

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,325,991 12/1919 King 141/290 1,941,304 12/1933 Heylandt... 141/285 2,401,124 5/1946 Walker 141/115 Primary Examiner-Meyer Perlin Ag tom ey stryker and Jacobsqn ABSTRACT: A liquid filling apparatus having an annular passage for supplying liquid and a cylindrical center tube for discharging the excess liquid.

I PATENIED Jan 19 an INVENTORS ALB) H. WOLF DARRELO L. SCHREADER EDWARD 6. SCHAUMBURG ATTORNEYS LIQUID FILLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to liquid filling apparatus and, more specifically, to apparatus for filling a storage battery with a liquid electrolyte.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore, a typical prior art device for filling a storage battery with electrolyte comprised a pair of coaxial tubes, one located internal to the other. The electrolyte was supplied to the centrally located tube and a vacuum was applied to the annular discharge passage located between the inside of the outer tube and the outside of the inner tube. The vacuum in the annular discharge passage would draw off excess electrolyte when the level of the electrolyte in the container reached the lower end of the annular discharge passage. These devices are necessarily constructed in a coaxial relation because with this arrangement they are readily adaptable to fit through the circular openings in the top of a battery container. Normally, these openings are kept as small as possible to avoid sealing problems and loss of liquid through the battery cover. Therefore, one of the most efficient ways to fill a storage battery of this type is .to have two coaxial tubes, one supplying electrolyte and the second drawing off excess electrolyte when the level of liquid electrolyte reaches the lower portion of the passage. However, the annular discharge passage on this prior art filling device has a tendency to clog up because, in the manufacture of storage batteries, a certain amount of crud and other foreign material invariably gets into the container. This crud and foreign material usually floats to the top of the liquid electrolyte and is drawn off through the annular discharge passage. This crud clogs up the annular discharge passage, thusv requiring frequent cleaning of the discharge passage. It is difficult and time consuming to clean out the discharge passage because the filling head must be disassembled, i.e.'the inner supply tube must be removed before the outer discharge passage can be cleaned. In addition, because of the small distance between the tubes relatively small particles of crud and foreign material can quickly clog up the annular discharge passage between the inner and outer tubes.

We have invented an improved filling device comprising a first annular inlet passage for introducing a' liquid into a container and a second cylindrical discharge passage for discharging excess liquid in the container-However, reversing the filling and discharge passages is not sufficient to produce a good liquid level filling apparatus. By reversing the filling and discharge tubes and allowing fluid to flow into the container through the annular inlet passage located outside the cylindrical discharge tube, it was discovered that the vacuum source on the inner tube was drawing off liquid as the liquid flowed past the end of the central cylindrical discharge passage. That is, an annular sheet of liquid flows along the outer diameter of the inside tube and as it flows along the outer diameter of the inside tube and past the end of the inside tube, a portion of the fluid is sucked into the discharge tube and back to the reservoir. Consequently, the filling behavior of this type of device is very erratic. To overcome this problem we have provided a radially outward extending ridge on the end of our central discharge tube and have spaced our second outer tube above the end of the ridge so that the liquid flowing in an annular sheet is deflected radially outward from the end of the central discharge passage, thereby preventing any of the incoming liquid from being drawn directly from the incoming tube into the discharge tube. In addition, there has been provided a groove along the side of the radially extending ridge that prevents dripping of liquid from the tubes when the filling unit is raised. This groove allows any excess liquid that is clinging to the tubes to run down the tube and along the groove and be drawn into the discharge passage as the filling unit is removed from the container. This is advantageous it the filling unit is supplying a corrosive liquid electrolyte which obviously would damage noncorrosive resistant material located next to the filling head. An additional advantage of this type of reversed filling head is that the cylindrical outlet creates a larger diameter opening for the crud and foreign material that is drawn off of the container than an annular passage of the same area. Also, as crude and foreign material build up within the central passage it is easily cleaned by merely running a rod with appropriate cleaning material attached thereto through the circular discharge passage. Furthermore, because the liquid that is used to fill the containers is clean it does not clog up the nar row annular inlet passage very readily.

SUMMARY Briefly the invention comprises a first member having an annular inlet passage located in fluid communication with a reservoir for supplying a liquid to a container and a cylindrical member located coaxially within the first member for drawing off liquid when the level of the liquid in the container reaches the lower end of the cylindrical member. The cylindrical member includes a radially extending ridge located on the lower end for deflecting the incoming fluid radially outward so as to prevent entrainment of fluid by the centrally located discharge tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING .FIG. 1 is a pictorial end view of the end of the liquid filling unit;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the acid filling head assembly located in a container; and

FIG. 3 is a pictorial front view of the filling head assembly for use in filling a number of cells of a battery.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally denotes our filling unit comprising a first cylindrical member 11 and a second cylindrical member 12. Cylindrical member 11 and cylindrical member 12 are Io'cated'ooaxially along axis 14 so as to create an annular inlet passage 13 between the outside of cylindrical member 12 and the inside of cylindrical member 11. Located within cylindrical member 12 is a circular outlet passage 15 for discharging excess liquid. The bottom of cylindrical member 11 is located above the bottom of cylindrical member 12 so as not to direct fluid immediately adjacent outlet passage 15. Located at the bottom of cylindrical member 12 is a radially extending ridge l6. Ridge 16 extendsat an angle of approximately from axis 14 and forms a portion of cylindrical member 12. Ridge 16 directs fluid flowing from inlet passage 13 radially away from. cylindrical member 12. Although ridge 16 extends at an angle of l05 from axis 14, this is by way of illustration and should not be intended as a limitation.

Located in ridge 16 is a groove 17 that extends completely through ridge l6 and is flush with the outside of cylindrical member 12. When filling unit 10 is in operation cylindrical member 12 is in a vertical position so that fluid flows vertically downward from inlet passage 13 along cylindrical member 12. When the supply of liquid to filling unit 10 is shut off liquid may cling or adhere to ridge 16 outside of cylindrical member 12. Groove 17 allows this excess liquid to flow downward through groove 17 and be sucked into circular outlet 15 inside of cylindrical member 12. Thus, if this filling unit is used for filling a battery container with a corrosive electrolyte, cylindrical members 1 l and 12 would be made from a material that is noncorrosive such as polyvinyl chloride.

Typical dimensions used in this type of filling unit are as follows: cylindrical member 11 outside diameter .50 inch; cylindrical member 11 inside diameter .36 inch; cylindrical member 12 outside diameter .31 inches; and cylindrical member 12 inside diameter .21 inches. The outside diameter of ridge 16 is .50 inches so as to extend outward and deflect fluid flowing from inlet passage 13 radially outward. These dimensions are given as examples only and should not be construed as limiting the invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, like parts of the liquid filling unit have the same reference numerals as their counterparts in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 20 generally denotes a liquid filling head assembly for filling a liquid to a desired level in a container. Liquid filling head assembly 20 comprises a housing 21 having a connector 22 that is adapted to be connected to a low pressure source and reservoir (not shown) and a connector 23 which is adapted to be connected to a reservoir of liquid (not shown) that is to supply liquid to a container. Located on housing 21 is a dovetail member 24 for fastening the housing 21 to some suitable means for raising and lowering the unit.

Liquid filling head assembly 20 is shown supplying liquid to a container 25 having a circular opening 26 located therein. The top edges of circular opening 26 engage a rubber cushion 27 so as to prevent splattering of liquid from container 25 past the edges of opening 26. In operation, liquid is supplied to the inside of the container 25 from a source of liquid through hose connection 23, a reservoir 31 and an annular filling inlet passage 13 located between cylindrical member 11 and cylindrical member 12. The liquid flows vertically downward along cylindrical member 12 and is deflected outward by ridge 16 as indicated by arrows. A vacuum pump (not shown) is connected to connection 22 so as to produce low vacuum in circular outlet 15 in cylindrical member 12 through a passage 29 (partially hidden) and a passage 30.

Referring now to FIG. 3, liquid filling head assembly 20 is shown in a front view. Head assembly 20 comprises first filling unit 40, a second filling unit 41, a third filling unit 43, a fourth filling unit 44, a fifth filling unit 45 and a sixth filling unit 46. Filling units 41 through 46 are identical to previously described filling unit and so will not be described in detail. These filling units are located in a spaced apart relationship so that entire head assembly 20 can be lowered with filling units 40, 41, 43, 44, 45 and 46 so as to place the filling units in a filling position within a container. Typical use in apparatus of this type would be to fill the adjacent cells on a multicell storage battery.

Referring to FIG. 2, the operation of the system will now be described in more detail. In order to fill container 25 to the desired level cylindrical member 11 and cylindrical member 12 are placed into opening 26 of container 25 and head assembly 20 is lowered until rubber 27 contacts the top of opening 26. This ensures that there will be no spillage or leakage of the liquid from splashing or splattering of the liquid within the container. Also, this provides a positioning reference for limiting how far filling unit 10 projects into container 25 and thus determines automatically the depth of the liquid in container 25. Next, liquid is supplied to reservoir 31 through connection 23 from a source (not shown). From reservoir 31 the liquid flows through annular inlet passage 13 between cylindrical member 11 and cylindrical member 12 in an annular flow pattern until it impinges on ridge 16 on cylindrical member 12. As the liquid impinges on ridge 16 it flows radially outward as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2, thus preventing the liquid from going directly downward and being sucked into discharge passage 15. The pressure in the container can be ambient atmosphere conditions at a pressure designated by P and the pressure applied to hose connection 22 is designated as a pressure P In operation the pressure P is maintained at a value less than pressure P so there is suction provided at the end of the circular outlet. 1n the absence of ridge 16 liquid flows downward in an annular liquid column thus encompassing circular outlet 15. This creates a problem when circular outlet is connected to a low pressure source because liquid is entrained and sucked into circular outlet passage 15 before it can flow into container 25. Obviously, this continual circulation of fluid from the inlet passage 13 to circular outlet passage 15 is undesirable. To prevent this undesirable circulation ridge 6 deflects the fluid radially outward from cylinder member 12 and away from the end of circular outlet passage 15.

With the liquid level shown at the position indicated in FIG.

2, liquid continues to flow through annular inlet passage 13 along the outside of cylindrical member 12 and is deflected radially outward until the liquid in the container approaches the lower end of cylindrical circular outlet passage 15. When the liquid level in the container reaches the end of outlet passage 15 fluid is sucked from the container into reservoir 30 by the vacuum pump connected to hose connection 22 (not shown). This maintains the level of the liquid at bottom of circular passage 15 until an operator can shut off the liquid supply to reservoir 31. Thus we have provided means for filling a container to a predetermined level. When the container has been filled an operator removes housing 20 and filling unit 40, 41, 43, 44, 45 and 46 from the container. The liquid supply is shut off but the vacuum supply is maintained so that liquid clinging or adhering to the outside of the cylindrical members flows through the grooves and is sucked into the circular discharge passage, thus preventing any spillage of the liquid.

We claim:

1. An electrolyte liquid level filling apparatus for batteries comprising a member containing a reservoir for a liquid, a first cylindrical member having a cylindrical passage located in fluid communication with said reservoir for supplying the liquid to a container located in an ambient atmosphere under a pressure P and a second cylindrical member having a cylindrical passage located therein, said second member located coaxially within said first member so as to form an annular inlet passage, said second member having one end adapted to be connected to a return reservoir located in an ambient atmosphere under a pressure P.,, the pressure P, characterized by being less than the pressure P so as to produce a suction at the other end of said passage thereby drawing fluid into said passage when the level of the liquid in the container approaches said other end, said other end of said second member having a radially outward extending circumferential portion located therefrom for deflecting the liquid from said first member radially outward thereby preventing entrainment of the liquid by said second member as it flows therepast.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is made from a polyvinyl material so as to be resistant to a corrosive electrolyte.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radially extending portion is located at an angle of with respect to the axis through the center of said first member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radially extending portion includes a groove so that when said member is removed from said container said groove allows liquid located on the top portion of said radially extending portion to be sucked into said outlet passage in said second cylindrical member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including at least two liquid leveling filling apparatus for supplying electrolyte to the individual cells of a battery.

- 6. The apparatus of claim 4 including a sponge material located around said first member so as to engage the top portion of the container in a fluid sealing relation thereby pr venting the liquid from splashing out of the container. 

1. An electrolyte liquid level filling apparatus for batteries comprising a member containing a reservoir for a liquid, a first cylindrical member having a cylindrical passage located in fluid communication with said reservoir for supplying the liquid to a container located in an ambient atmosphere under a pressure P1 and a second cylindrical member having a cylindrical passage located therein, said second member located coaxially within said first member so as to form an annular inlet passage, said second member having one end adapted to be connected to a return reservoir located in an ambient atmosphere under a pressure P2, the pressure P2 characterized by being less than the pressure P1 so as to produce a suction at the other end of said passage thereby drawing fluid into said passage when the level of the liquid in the container approaches said other end, said other end of said second member having a radially outward extending circumferential portion located therefrom for deflecting the liquid from said first member radially outward thereby preventing entrainment of the liquid by said second member as it flows therepast.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is made from a polyvinyl material so as to be resistant to a corrosive electrolyte.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radially extending portion is located at an angle of 105* with respect to the axis through the center of said first member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radially extending portion includes a groove so that when said member is removed from said container said grOove allows liquid located on the top portion of said radially extending portion to be sucked into said outlet passage in said second cylindrical member.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 including at least two liquid leveling filling apparatus for supplying electrolyte to the individual cells of a battery.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 including a sponge material located around said first member so as to engage the top portion of the container in a fluid sealing relation thereby preventing the liquid from splashing out of the container. 